Our Story
Peaceable Kingdom Press creates high-quality cards and gifts for kids. Our products feature the art from classic children’s books, contemporary artists and unique children’s properties. We are dedicated to offering items that nourish children’s hearts, eyes, and funny bones. All of our products are original and fun! You can find our products in gift stores, toy stores, and bookstores throughout the U.S. and Canada.
The company was started 25 years ago by Olivia and Thacher Hurd. Thacher is the son of renowned children’s book illustrator Clement Hurd who illustrated the classic picture books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny. One day, back in 1983, Clement made a painting based on the art from Goodnight Moon and asked Olivia and Thacher if they wanted to sell it as a poster. They printed 1,000 posters, sold it to stores in Berkeley, CA and a company was born. That Goodnight Moon poster is still in the line today.
Because of the Hurds connection to the children’s book publishing community, Olivia and Thacher were able to work directly with some of the most influential writers and illustrators of children’s books including Arnold Lobel (Frog & Toad), Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are), Margret Rey (Curious George), Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar), and Rosemary Wells (Max and Ruby). The company became a model for showcasing the best in children’s picture book art in cards and posters.
Over the years, the company added dozens of children’s book illustrators to their roster of artists and dozens of new products to their line including games, stickers, diaries, paper dolls, and so much more.
In 2000, The Booksource acquired Peaceable Kingdom Press. The Booksource is a family-owned wholesale distributor of trade books to schools. Though Thacher and Olivia are no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the company their legacy lives on in the culture and products of Peaceable Kingdom Press.
